Out of Band Configuration on Cisco ACI

Below are the Cisco ACI OOB configuration steps, we will use an example for illustration:

I- Assign static node management address

• Navigate to: Tenant > Tenant mgmt > Node Management Addresses > Static Node Management Addresses

• Configure APICs and switches OOB addresses:

Create on the action pane and click Create Static Node Management Addresses:

II- Provide an OOB contract on the Out of Band EPG

Navigate to: Tenant > Tenant mgmt > Node Management EPGs > Out-of-Band EPG default

In the Provided Out-of-Band Contract section, add a contract. We used default, but, It can more specific like an SSH, HTTP contract:

III- Define an External management network instance profile

Navigate To: Tenant > Tenant mgmt > External Management Network Instance Profiles

• Create External Management Network Instance Profile:

IV- Consume the OOB Contract

Navigate To: Tenant > Tenant mgmt > External Management Network Instance Profiles > Ext_Management_Profile

In Consumed Out-of-Band Contracts, add the contract provided under the OOB EPG:

Note:

• A External Management Network Instance Profile defines which External subnets can have access to ACI OOB management addresses.
• By defaults all External subnets have OOB access (for initial setup purposes), but, you can limit it here.

Summary

And because a picture is better than 1000 words, we can illustrate the OOB configuration in this simple diagram: